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Tin Can Gets Underway

David Vann says he’ll stop in San Diego before heading non-stop around the world.

© 2008 Peter Lyons

David Vann departed San Francisco Bay yesterday aboard his self-built 50-ft trimaran Tin Can. If you have been reading our reports in ‘Lectronic Latitude, you will know that the 39-year-old writer and sailor hopes to sail this boat — which he built of aluminum plating and tubing in about 4 months — around the world non-stop. Originally, the plan was to start and end in San Francisco. Now, according to his website, he will stop first in San Diego to sort out any last-minute glitches before proceeding.

Vann upped anchor about noon from a spot off Sausalito YC where Tin Can had been parked since her launch and shakedown sail on Tuesday. He sailed out under the Golden Gate in light air around 1 p.m. About 3 p.m., two or three miles off Point Bonita (and very close to the Potato Patch, if not in it), Vann was approached by a Coast Guard 47-footer which requested that he return to the Bay for a safety inspection. Vann expressed disappointment, informed them he had no engine and that, in the light breeze, that would take awhile. After some more conversation (including an offer by photographer Peter Lyons to tow Tin Can back into the Bay), the Coasties radioed for another team to come out in an inflatable and do the boarding.

After about half an hour, the team declared “zero violations,” and with a wish of “Have a good voyage, skipper,” Tin Can was released. Vann immediately unrolled his jib and proceeded southwest in light breeze and lumpy seas.

Tin Can passed a Coast Guard safety inspection and was sent on her way.

© 2008 Peter Lyons

As Vann departed, he indicated that the Coast Guard told him their inspection had been prompted by a number of calls from people reporting this "unsafe voyage," and some words to the effect of "Thank you, Latitude." We want to clarify to readers that we have tried to remain as fair and professional as possible in reporting on this story, and have given Vann every opportunity to speak directly with us. (He is prevented from doing so by an agreement with Esquire magazine, for which he is writing the story of this voyage.) We certainly have nothing against Vann and wish him only luck. That said, it’s hard to remain completely impartial, especially when Vann himself creates a sense of extreme danger in writing about his plans — such as emphasizing that his naval architect quit because he feared for Vann’s life. He certainly had to know folks would form strong opinions.

For the record, we did not have any communications with the Coast Guard about Vann. And, once again, we’re not saying he can’t or won’t complete his voyage. We’re just saying he would have to have incredibly good weather and luck to do it. We hope he does.

For more information on Vann and his plans, go to www.esquire.com/the-side/blog/tincan.

We wish Vann and Tin Can luck.

© 2008 Peter Lyons

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